Telescopic carrying case



Dec. 29, 19.59 F. H. WEBER TELESCOPIC CARRYING CASE:

Filed Oct. 51, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lyin far 5cm/v //'n H /fl/ebef* 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 29, 1959 F. H. WEBER TELESCOPIC CARRYING CASE Filedom. s1, 1957 TELESCOPIC CARRYING CASE Franklin H. Weber, Cicero, Ill.

Application October 31, 1957, Serial No. 693,698

4 Claims. (Cl. 206-1) The present invention relates to improvements intelescopic carrying cases and more particularly concerns novel means foradjustably securing the relatively telescopically related tubularmembers of the case.

Telescopic carrying cases comprising a pair of tubular members with oneof the members slidably disposed withnited States Patent() in the otherof the members are especially useful for carrying fishing tackle andmore especially valuable rods or other elongated devices which should beprotectively incased for transportation or storage purposes. Inasmuch assuch elongated articles are of various lengths, telescopic carryingcases are desirably readily adjustable as to over-all length so that onestandard of length in the telescopic tubes comprising the case willenable adjustment within a large range from a predetermined maximumextension or relative protraction of the tubular members of the case toa minimum over-all length wherein the members of the case are relativelycollapsed or retracted. In any preferred or adjusted over-all lengthdetermined by the length of the articles to be incased the carrying casemembers should be capable of relatively fixed securement to maintain thedesired adjusted length.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention toprovide a telescopic carrying case having impoved means for securing therelatively telescopic tubular members thereof in fixed adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel combinationadjustment securing and carrying means for telescopic carrying cases.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means foreffecting relative adjustment of telescopic carrying case members bymeans of a novel releasable clutch device including an expansible andcontractible wall portion of the outer of the carrying case tubes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved clutchstructure for telescopic carrying cases carried by and comprisingentirely means on the outer of the carrying case tubes while the innerof the tubes is entirely free from and infinitely adjustable relative tothe clutch means within the substantial range of tele- ;scopicladjustments possible with the members of the particular carrying case.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of certainpreferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a carrying case embodyingfeatures of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of that portion ofthe carrying case assembly indicated by the line Il-II of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the lineIll-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail View `taken substantially onthe line IV-IV of Figure 3;

2,919,017 Patented Dec. 29, 1959 ICC Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectionaldetail view taken substantially on the line V-V of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modifiedcombination clutch and carrying device on a tubular carrying case; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken substantiallyon the line VII--VII of Figure 6.

Agtelescopic carrying case 10 (Fig. l) embodying the present inventioncomprises a pair of tubular elongated members 11 and 12 which are ofpredetermined differential diameter to enable the tube 12 to be slidablyadjusted longitudinally within the tube 11. The combined length of thetubes 11 and 12 enables the carrying case to be adjusted as to lengththroughout a wide range from the fully relatively extended or protractedcondition of the tubes 11 and 12 while yet slidably interengaged, to arelatively short case wherein the tube 12 is substantially retracted orslidably telescoped into the outer tube 11. At the distal or remote endsthereof, the tubes 11 and 12 are provided with respective end closurecaps 13 and 14. At least the closure cap 14 on the smaller diameter orinner of the carrying case tubes 12 may be detachable if preferred sothat after the tubes have been relatively adjustably secured or lockedin a predetermined case length relationship contents can be inserted andremoved through the distal end of the tube 12 by removing the end cap14.

The carrying case tubes 11 and 12 may be made from the same or differentmaterials. While lightweight metal tubing such as aluminum tubing may beused for either or both of the carrying case tubes 11 and 12, cardboardor other fiber material or plastic material or combination fiber andplastic material tubing may be used.

According to the' present invention, quick releasable friction clutchmeans are provided for retaining the carrying case tubes 11 and 12 inselected telescopically related relative positions of adjustmentdeterminative of the overall length of the carrying case. To this end, asplit draw ring 15 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) is assembled about the proximalor inner end mouth portion of the larger or outside tube 11. In apreferred form, the draw ring 15 is constructed from suitable sheet orstrip material, preferably metallic and possessed of at least limitedresiliency. The width of the draw ring 15 is such as to overlap theouter side of the margin of the inner mouth end of the tube 11throughout a substantial width, with a narrow radially inwardly turnedflange 17 along one edge of the draw ring affording resilient stiffnesstherefore and an edge finish at and overlapping the edge of the tube 11,but with the flange 17 preferably shorter than the thickness of thematerial of the tube 11 as best seen in Figure 4. Opposite the splitends thereof, the draw ring 15 is secured to the tube 11 as by means ofone or more rivets 1S (Fig. 3), leaving the remainder of the ring freefrom attachment but encompassingly, grippingly engageable with the outermarginal perimeter of the outside tube 11.

Normally the clamping ring 15 tends to spring resiliently open to aslightly larger diameter than the outside tube 11 as best seen in dashoutline in Fig. 3. Thereby, flexible friction clutch segments or fingers19 into which the ring-encompassed margin of the tube 11 is uniformlysub-divided by longitudinal slots 20 (Figs. 3 and 4) are free forlongitudinal sliding adjustment of the inner case tube 12 relative tothe outer of the case tubes 11. At their inner ends, the slots 20 arepreferably provided with enlargedv blind ends 21 as best seen in Figure4 so as to render the clutch fingers 19 more flexibly yieldable. On theother hand, the slots 20 are preferably as narrow as practicable so asto afford for the clutch lingers 19 as large frictional engaging area aspracticable. It may also be noted that preferably the total length ofthe slots 20 inclusive of the enlarged blind ends 21 thereof is' soference of theouter case tube 11, and means are provided for drawing theseparated ends of the ring toward one another until .the desired rmclamping action has been attained. For this purpose, `a toggle type drawlatch or `buckle Aassembly 22 is connected to and between theseparableends ofthe Vdraw ring. This includes a lever member 23pivotally'mounted on a bracket 24 secured as by means of a rivet 25 tolone ofthe ring end portions. Pivotally connected in overcenter togglerelation to the lever 23 is a toggle link 27 pivotally attached to abracket 28 `secured as by means of a rivet 29 to the remaining endportion of the ring. In the closed condition of the buckle 22 as seen inFigures 2 and 3, the ends of the ring member 15 are drawn toward oneanother to draw the ring into slightly smaller diameter than the normalcircumference of the tube 11 for thereby cramping and snugly clampingthe clutch fingers 19 against the encompassed pen'meter of the innercase tube 12. Yet, by snapping the latch or buckle lever 23 open intothe dash line position shown in Figure 3, release of the draw ring 15 isquickly effected and it springs open to release the clutch fingers 19from their gripping engagement with the tube 12 so that .the case tubescan be separated or readjusted.

Conveniently, the same rivets 18 that connect the draw ring 15 to theouter tube 11 of the case are used for securing, at least in part, acarrying handle 30 to the carrying case. To this end, a bearing loopbracket 31 has opposite end portions thereof secured to the outer faceof the draw ring 15 as best seen in Figure 3,while the loop of thebearing bracket engages a journal end 32 of the handle. At its oppositeend, .the 'handle 30 is secured pivotally by means of a looped beatingbracket 33 engaging an end journal 34 thereof to a continuous handleattaching band 35 as by means of rivets 37. The band 35 is .of an insidediameter to more or less snugly engage about the perimeter'of the outerof the case tubes 11 as best seen in Figures 1 and 5. Through thisarrangement, the handle 30 is located at approximately the center ofweight in a substantially balanced manner for ease in carrying the case.

VIn the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7, the structure andoperationaldetails of the carrying case are preferably substantiallyythe `same as described in connejction with the carrying case 10 andtherefore primed reference numerals indicate substantially identicalparts for which the description need not be here repeated. However, inthis form of the invention, the draw ring band is provided with `asomewhat wider or stabilizing extension portion 38 -in line with thecentral or intermediate portion of the ring that Vis secured by therivets 18' .to the :case vtube 11 Y.so asto accommodate a bearingbracket 39 which'is of a -width to support pivotally in effective stablemanner a looptype carrying handle 40 having Aa journal portion 41pivotally lengaged within the `bracket 39. Through thislarrang'ement,the secondhandle attaching band such -as the band ,35 iin Figure-1,is/eliminated. Nevertheless,zthe same rivets by which the draw ibandlor ring is attached to the outer tube of the case are used forattachingfthe handle Vin the assembly.

It zwill be understood thatmoditications Yand variations may be effectedWithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my'invention:

1. In a telescopic carrying case, a pair of telescopically relatedtubes, the larger of the tubes having an end portion encompassinglydisposed about the smaller of the tubes, a draw ring about said endportion and having means for crampingly engaging it about said endportion, a handle, and commonv means securing said handle and said drawring to said end portion.

v2. ln a telescopic carrying casea pair of telescopically related tubes,the larger of the tubes having an end portion encompassingly disposedabout the smaller of the tubes, a draw ring about said end portion andhaving means for crampinglyengaging it about said end portion, a handle,and common means securing said handle and said draw ring to said endportion, said handle having additional connecting means on the larger ofthe tubes spaced from said draw ring and disposed in axially fixedrelation to `said larger tube by said common means.

r3. ln a telescopic carrying case, a pair of telescopically relatedtubes, the larger of the tubes having an end portion encompassinglydisposed about the smaller of the tubes, a draw ring about said endportion and having means for crampingly engaging it about said endportion, a handle, and co-mmon means securing said handle and said drawring to said end portion, saidr handle having additional connectingmeans on the larger of the tubes spaced from said draw ring and disposedin axially iixed relation to said larger tube by said common means, saidadditional means comprising a second `ring .encircling the larger of thetubes in permanently closed relationship therearound. Y

4. In a telescopic carrying case, a pair of tubes each having an endclosure at one of its ends and its opposite end open, one of said tubeshaving an inside diameter fo-r slidingly receiving the second of saidtubes, said one tube having the margin of its open end uniformlysubdivided by longitudinal slots of predetermined length into aplurality of iiexible friction clutch` fingers, a split resilientlyflexible draw ring band of a width substantially equal to the length ofsaid -iingers encompassing the ingers and closing the slots and normallyspringing open to a larger diameter than the outside diameter of saidone tube, a liange, shorter than the thickness of the iingers, along oneedge of the ring, `substantially contacting the end of the fingers andsubstantially closing the ends of the slots, means permanently securingsaid draw ring band intermediate its ends, to at least one of Vsaidfingers, the open end portion of said one tube telescopically engagingabout the open end portion of said second tube and being relativelylongitudinally slidably adjustable to vary the length of the'caseprovided by the combined tubes, and a quickly releasable draw latchassembly connected to and between ythe ends of said draw ring band andoperable to draw said draw ring band endstoward one another and therebytighten the draw ring bandabout said lingers and uniformly frictionallypress said lingers throughout their length against said second tube andto clutch and hold the tubes in adjusted longitudinally adjusted caselength relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS736,328 Wilson Aug. 11, 1903 1,346,636 Cottle July 13, 1920 1,713,129Hope May 14, 1929 1,816,545 Porter July 28, 1931 1,975,925 Compo s Oct.9, 1934 2,409,532 Bentley Oct. 15, 1946 2,427,138 Hamilton f Sept. 9,1947

